"World of Dance" Kevin Feige

by Bridgette Babb - Copy Editor

Tue, Apr 23rd 2019 11:00 pm

Dance competitions on networks such as ABC and FOX have always been popular night-time entertainment for people all over the world. I remember as a child I would watch “America’s Best Dance Crew” (ACDC) with my grandmother. Every Monday was spent in the living room with my mother watching “Dancing with the Stars.”

The newest dance show craze is “World of Dance.” Though in its third season on NBC, there are a lot of new rules and it has caused the competition to become way more intense. This show is different because instead of having amateur dancers like “So You Think You Can Dance,” it brings forth the best of the best. Season One’s winners were the infamous “Le Twins,” who are known worldwide for their unique animation hip-hop style. Season Two winners were returning junior hip-hop team “The Lab.” Fans got to see the ultimate comeback and enjoy the group’s growth from the first season.

Season Three has kept me on my toes every episode. On one hand, it is exciting to see all the talent that comes onto the stage, along with their heartfelt stories. Then on the other hand, it is disheartening because you know not everyone can win. Almost all of the contestants are good so the judges are nitpicky. I personally enjoy the show because I see a lot of familiar faces. I have seen dancers I know from YouTube, people who dance from my hometown and dancers from other shows.

The show is judged by actress and recording artist Jennifer Lopez, music artist Ne-Yo and ballroom master Derek Hough. All three have a background in entertainment and dancing, making them the perfect trio. The show is set up with four different categories: upper groups, upper soloists, junior groups and junior soloists.

For the first round, the acts have to receive a combined score of 85 or above in order to move on to the ultimate prize of $1 million. In the first season, acts only had to make it to a score of 80, meaning a lot of the greats from past seasons may not have made it this time around. Some acts made it through by the skin of their teeth with 85’s, while others scored as high as 95.6.

The second round is called “The Duels.” Here, the highest ranking individuals get the choice of who they think they can beat in a one-on-one competition. Most high rankers choose the lowest scoring competitor, but sometimes it can ultimately hurt them in the end. Low scorers can come for the jugular to make up for their first performances. This year’s plot twist is the “Redemption Round,” where the highest ranking players who lost duels can have one more shot at a spot.

The next round is “The Cut.” This is where only the one best performance from each division is chosen for the finals. The finale follows this and is followed by the decision of the winner. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves to see competitive dancing.